Bomber receiver takes the blame

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KIRK PENTON, QMI Agency

Jul 19, 2011

, Last Updated: 11:06 PM ET

Terence Jeffers-Harris had something he needed to get off his chest, so he turned to the form of communication today's youth knows best.

Twitter.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback used the social media site on Monday to issue an apology to his backup quarterback, Joey Elliott, who was, at approximately the same time, watching his own knee surgery take place after apparently getting an epidural.

Elliott suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while making a tackle on a fumble return during last Thursday's 21-20 loss to Calgary. The ball was put on the ground by Jeffers-Harris, who felt he needed to apologize to his teammate.

"I definitely take responsibility for my actions," Jeffers-Harris said. "I feel like if I hold on to the ball, we still have Joey. But that's part of the game. Things happen. I was sending condolences to my guy."

Fumbles haven't been the sophomore's biggest problem this season, and he probably could be forgiven for last week's gaffe considering how hard he got hit on the play.

The inability to simply catch the ball is what has been dogging Jeffers-Harris through three games for the Bombers (2-1), who will take on the Toronto Argonauts (1-2) on Saturday at Rogers Centre. He's had several drops and is contributing to Winnipeg's woeful start to the season on offence.

"It's been mediocre," the 23-year-old said of his play. "I still feel like I have a lot to prove and a lot to do. I really feel like my best games are still ahead of me.

"It's just a lack of focus. It's things I can solve. Just catch the ball. It's my favourite thing to do."

Head coach Paul LaPolice doesn't like using a JUGS machine, which fires balls at varying speeds and angles. His formula for curing the drops is simple.

"It's what we used to call freeze ball," LaPolice said. "You just overlook the ball into your hands. It's not about the size of your hands or your athletic ability. It's whether you look the ball into your hands every time."

LATE HITS: Receiver Greg Carr (quadriceps) returned to the practice field Tuesday but ran reps with the second team and it doesn't sound like he'll be ready for Saturday. "I know he was kind of sore in practice today," LaPolice said. "¦ Defensive end Odell Willis (groin) and fullback Scott McHenry (wrist) didn't practise "¦ LaPolice said the team's first overall draft pick, linebacker Henoc Muamba, will be out at least two more weeks due to his knee injury "¦ Elliott was hobbling around on both legs Tuesday, reportedly because the surgeon took part of his right hamstring to rebuild his left ACL.